From garden to glam: Melania heads to Canada for first solo trip as FLOTUS

First Lady Melania Trump is coming into her own as she travels to Canada, where she is leading the US delegation in the Invictus Games, an international sporting competition for wounded vets.

The Slovenian-born former fashion model has a full schedule set for Saturday. On her plate are meetings with Invictus Games-founded Prince Harry of Britain and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a speech she’s slated to deliver to the approximately 100 American athletes set to participate, and attendance of the week-long event’s opening ceremony.

Prince Harry started the Invictus Games in 2014 as a way of honoring veterans from around the world. More than 17 countries are sending participants, for a total of over 550 athletes.

Toronto, Canada(Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation )(Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation )

The events comprise 12 sports designed for wounded service members, including wheelchair tennis, sitting volleyball, and cycling.

The maiden games were held in London in 2014. The year 2015 was skipped over to allow the city of Orlando, FL time to prepare for 2016. The third Invictus Games are being hosted in Toronto, Canada–and Mrs. Trump is representing her adoptive country.

The delegates to the previous two games were led by then-Second Lady Jill Biden in London and former First Lady Michelle Obama in Orlando. Mrs. Trump’s decision to follow in the footsteps of these women signals her deep reverence for the US and the men and women who serve in its armed forces.

First Lady spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said “She feels strongly that they – and their families – should be honored every day. Grisham also notes that Mrs. Trump holds “great admiration for the role the games have played in empowering those who have been injured while serving.”

Other members of the American delegation to the Invictus Games are Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, professional golfer Nancy Lopez and entertainer Wayne Newton.

This isn’t the first time the First Lady specifically honors America’s warriors. Last week, Mrs. Trump observed the US Air Force’s 70th Anniversary by delivering an address thanking members of the military for their help in hurricane relief efforts in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

She has also shown her willingness to get down to work on multiple occasions, most recently in an event with children of Washington’s Boys and Girls Club. The First Lady was seen hard at work harvesting and washing vegetables of the White House Garden. The media praised Mrs. Trump’s work ethic–and noted her stylish red plaid shirt.